PATA Travel Mart 2004 aims for 300 Buyers, 300 Sellers

The PATA Travel Mart 2004, one of the most important trade events on the regional calendar, is to be held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC), Bangkok, between September 22 – 24, 2004.

The mart in Bangkok will be the first since the Pacific Asia Travel Association decided to return to the system of rotating the mart around Asia-Pacific cities after six years in Singapore.

Alongside, PATA will convene its Board of Directors meeting which will bring together some of the region’s seniormost executives.

TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing, Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn said, “Thailand is very honoured to have been chosen as venue for the first mart under the rotation system. We will work closely with PATA to ensure that it attracts a high attendance and is a success.”

TAT is also working with the PATA Thailand Chapter, THAI Airways International, the Thai Hotels Association (THA), the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), the Convention and Exhibition Bureau (CEB) and the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA).

Mrs. Phornsiri, who also represents TAT on the PATA Board, said the successful Thai participation in the PATA Mart 2003 in Singapore had paved the way for a high level of interest in attending the 2004 event.

The mart hopes to attract 300 sellers, especially from emerging niche-market products like golf and diving, and 300 buyers from fast-growing markets like the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

As of May 13, 2004, a total of 75 buyers from 25 countries and 128 sellers from 19 countries have registered for the mart.

Mrs. Phornsiri said the mart will deliver huge benefits to the Thai tourism industry.

“With Bangkok becoming increasingly the main gateway hub to the Mekong countries, buyers will find a large number of products and services well worth including in their future packages.

“Not only are many of these countries granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access, they are also being increasingly linked up by roads, highways, airports and seaports which are providing vital transportation linkages,” she said.

By September the QSNCC will also be linked by Bangkok’s newest mode of transportation, the subway mass transit system which will have a station right outside the convention centre.

TAT has coordinated with the THA in selecting 15 hotels along the routes of both the subway as well as the existing overhead mass transit system, the Skytrain, to accommodate mart delegates.

THAI has offered 50% discount tickets for buyers, sellers, accompanying delegates and media for the mart. Seven complimentary tours are to be offered to delegates, while six domestic and five Indochina packages will be offered as pre- and post-conference tours.

The deputy governor said Thailand is targeting 12 million arrivals in 2004, with an increasing focus on niche-markets like the MICE business, golf, wellness and spa, family, diving, youth and honeymooners. Other target groups are senior citizens, ladies, eco and soft adventure, medical tourism, long stay visitors and film-makers.

The mart is expected to attract a total of 1,000 participants,  generating at least 44.97 million baht in tourism revenue and an average spend of 14,990 baht per person per day.